The Aaron Clift Experiment "If All Goes Wrong"

Hello and welcome once again to The Closet Concert Arena fellow progheads!  The unofficial summer season has officially started, and like the weather the prog garden continues to heat up.    This week the Concert Closet took the search for all things prog stateside as an alluring  prog siren was drawing me to Texas...

The Aaron Clift Experiment has been dialed into my radar since I first heard them almost four years ago.  Like a true fan I have enjoyed listening to their sound grow and mature.  Loyal readers will remember I reviewed their earlier music and interviewed Aaron; exceptional music and a modest, unpretentious band leader.  The Closet Concert Arena  also appealed to the masses last September regarding an Indiegogo campaign to help fund the band's newest project.  Success was achieved and The Aaron Clift Experiment  released studio album number three May 4th!  Now I have a reason to once again set the GPS for Austin and take the Concert Closet back to the Lone Star State for a  review of "If All Goes Wrong."

The Aaron Clift Experiment humbly offers the understated self description of being "a progressive rock band"...albeit one influenced by some of the standard bearers of the genre.  In previous work, Aaron and company have taken that influence and fused it with a modern twist, bringing to the prog garden a sound and style unique unto itself.  So let us find out what could possibly go wrong...

First up on the platter is a tune called "Faith."  The song opens like an intense flash fire; a quick burst of bright energy that tapers down to a manageable burn.  The drums and guitars are a throwback to the arena-rock sound that permeated the 70's...even when the music seems to settle down you discover it crouched in the corner, waiting to pounce again.  The Aaron Clift Experiment is pushing the boundaries and wandering farther across the prog garden.  This album may prove to be more of a statement than simply a new release...

Next up is "Castle in the Sky" and once again the drum work steals a bit of the limelight.  There is a trace of Transatlantic skirting the perimeter of the song.  The guitars and keyboards work together on this cut much like good gin and extremely dry vermouth...the drums are the dirty olive that brings it all full circle.

Liner Notes...The Aaron Clift Experiment calls Austin, TX home and is comprised of leader Aaron Clift on vocals and keyboards, Devin North on bass, and Tim Smith on drums and percussion.  For this album the band enlisted impressive guitar talent; Van Wilks, Arielle, and Dave North.  The band originally formed in 2012 as Aaron's solo project and quickly morphed into the trio that is the heart and soul of today's successful experiment.  With influences from King Crimson,  Pink Floyd, Gentle Giant, and  Marillion, The Aaron Clift Experiment took the prog garden by storm.  After being nominated for several awards, their journey culminated in a performance at RosFest in 2017.  The new album as well as their previous work can be purchased at the band's website
Aaron Clift Experiment.  You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter, ACEFacebook and @AaronCliftMusic.  By now everyone knows my feelings about supporting the artists that make the music so please oblige and make the purchase.

The dessert course is the title cut "If All Goes Wrong."  A bit on the ominous side as the name suggests.  The aromatics here reflect The Strawbs right down to Aaron's smooth vocal style.  The pallet is tinged with grey hues that bleed gently as Tim's drums echo a melancholy sadness highlighted with wistful guitar work...just a reminder that beauty doesn't have to wear loud colors.

The lure to open your wallet is called "Wild Hunters."  The flavor here leans more toward the hard edge of the prog garden; think Circu5 jamming with Spock's Beard...washes over you like that jolt from the dentist drill.  The Aaron Clift Experiment hits the pallet with brighter hues this time combined with bullet-quick speed and precision.  The dance across the prog garden is coming full circle...

                    

 Once again the week seems to have raced by in about three days.  The Aaron Clift Experiment not only added to their resume with this album, they also expanded themselves as a group.  As I like to say (sometimes ad nauseum) this is what progressive rock is all about.

"If All Goes Wrong" is a turning point; the songs on this album move in several directions along a different trajectory than the band's previous work.  The music is tighter and crisper as Aaron, Devin, and Tim each come into their own.  The music runs the gambit; the album is as diverse a prog album as I've heard in quite some time.  One of the upsides to the search for all things prog is discovering a band and following their journey to success.

Now the journey continues...until next time...